Imparfait Flashcards by Theresa Seymour

Imparfait endings.

Parler. ??

Je parlais
Tu parlais
Il parlait 
Nous parlions
Vous parliez
Ils parlaient (pronounced like parlais)

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Imparfait - verbs with spelling changes in the present tense nous form such as manger (Je mange. Mais nous mangEons.) And commencer retain the spelling change for Je, tu, il, ils.

Ex: I encouraged

J’encourageais

Present tense Encourager 
J'encourage
Tu encourages
Il encourage
Nous ENCOURAGEONS
vous encouragez
Ils encouragent

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Imparfait - verbs with spelling changes in the present tense nous form

She demanded - exiger

Elle exigeait

Present tense - exiger

J’exige
Tu exiges
Il exige
Nous EXIGEONS

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Imparfait - verbs with spelling changes in the present tense nous form

They shared.

Ils partageaient

Present tense - partager

Je partage
Nous PARTAGEONS
vous partagez

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Imparfait - verbs with spelling changes in the present tense nous form

He moved forward

Il avançait

Present tense - advancer

J’avance
Nous AVANÇONS
Vous avancez

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Imparfait - verbs with spelling changes in the present tense nous form

She replaced

Elle replaçait

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Imparfait - verbs with spelling changes in the present tense nous form

They announced (Elle)

Elles annonçaient

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The extra e or ç are not needed in the nous and vous Imparfait form.

We swam?

Nous nagions

Present tense - Nager

Nous nageons

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The extra e or ç are not needed in the nous and vous Imparfait form.

We protected

Nous protégions

Present tense - protéger

Il protège
Nous Nous protégeons

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The extra e or ç are not needed in the nous and vous Imparfait form.

We started

Nous commencions

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The extra e or ç are not needed in the nous and vous Imparfait form.

You erased

Vous effaciez

Present - effacer

il efface
Nous effaçons?

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Depending on the context, the Imparfait has several meaning..

Elle faisait…
1.
2.
3.

She was doing
She used to do
She did

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Être Imparfait stem. Irregular.

Je
Tu
Il 
Nous
Vous
Ils

J'étais
Tu étais
Il était
Nous étions
Vous étiez
Ils étient

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Imparfait is used to describe

a state of mind.
Continuous, repeated, habitual past actions.

To form Imparfait, take ?!

The Nous form of the present tense and remove the ONS ending. Then add the Imparfait ending.

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Nous étions enchantés de notre expédition

We were delighted with our expedition

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Nous aimions Faire la cuisine. 
Could mean 
1.
2
3.

We used to like cooking

We liked cooking

We were enjoying cooking

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J'étais champion de tennis 
Could mean 
1
2
3

I was champion tennis player

I used to be champion tennis player

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Elles partageaient une chambre à l’université

Could mean
1
2
3

They were sharing a room at the university

They shared a room at the university

They used to share a room at the university

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The Imparfait is used for

background and description
A situation that existed in the past
A state of mind or being

Les rues étaient embouteillées

The streets were jammed

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The Imparfait is used for

background and description
A situation that existed in the past
A state of mind or being

La circulation était fluide

The traffic was flowing

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The Imparfait is used for

background and description
A situation that existed in the past
A state of mind or being

Il faisait trop chaud.

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It was too hot

The Imparfait is used for

background and description
A situation that existed in the past
A state of mind or being

Il avait faim

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He was hungry

The Imparfait is used for

background and description
A situation that existed in the past
A state of mind or being

Elle ne savait pas quoi faire

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She did not know what to do

Usually a state of mental or physical being used the Imparfait more often than passé composé. Verbs like

Être, avoir, penser, croire, savoir, espérer, sembler, paraître (to appear)

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Il semblait déprimé - he looked depressed.

Je savais qu’il avait raison - i knew he was right.

Used to and would (meaning habitually) are translated into French by the imparfait. Autrefois, elle faisait partie de la chorale.

In the past, | She used to belong to the choir.

Used to and would (meaning habitually) are translated into French by the imparfait. Ils allaient en Inde chaque année

They used to go (would go) to India every year

Used to and would (meaning habitually) are translated into French by the imparfait. Ils jouait au tennis le mardi

He used to (would) play tennis Tuesdays.

Some expressions of time or repetition may be an indication of the imperfait. Ex. AUTREFOIS elle ... Faisait partie de la chorale- ?

in The past she... Used to belong to the choir.

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Souvent

Often

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Fréquemment

Frequently

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Toujours

Always

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Le mardi

On Tuesdays

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Chaque jour, tous les jours

Every day

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Chaque semaine, mois, année

Every week, month, year

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... D'ordinaire

Ordinarily

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... D'habitude

Usually

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Habituellement

Regularly

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Comme à l'accoutumée

As usual

Expressions of time or repetitive indicating imperfait next in sentence... Jadis

once, in the past,

Imperfait also used to describe a continuous action that was going on in the past when another action (expressed in passé C) interrupted it. Elle regardait la télévision quand soudain elle a entendu un grand bruit

She was watching television when suddenly she heard a loud noise

Imperfait also used to describe a continuous action that was going on in the past when another action (expressed in passé C) interrupted it. Il faisait ses devoirs quand son frère est arrivé

He was doing his homework when his brother arrived.

To express an action that has been going on for a period of time before it was interrupted by the passé C use the Imparfait plus DEPUIS. translate: they had been in the mountains for a week when they decided to go to the seashore.

Ils étaient à la montagne depuis une semaine quand ils ont décidé d'aller au bord de la mer

She knew they were wrong

Elle savait qu'ils avaient tort

Si + on + Imparfait is used to make a suggestion or to invite someone to do something. = "what about .." Si on allait en France cet été?

What about going to France this summer?

Si + on + Imparfait is used to make a suggestion or to invite someone to do something. = "what about .." Si on allait rendre visite à Léo?

What about paying a visit to Léo?

Si + seulement + imparfait is used to express a wish or a regret. = "if only" If only we could take a vacation!

Si seulement on pouvait prendre des vacances!

Si + seulement + imparfait is used to express a wish or a regret. = "if only" If only she were on time!

Si seulement elle était à l'heure!

Si + seulement + imparfait is used to express a wish or a regret. = "if only" If only they lived closer!

Si seulement ils habitaient plus près!

Venir + de + infinitive = immediate past. (Just happened) Venir in Imparfait form + de +infinitive expresses an action that "HAD JUST HAPPENED" She has just called She had just called when he walked in

Elle vient de téléphoner Elle venait de téléphoner quand il est entré

Venir + de + infinitive = immediate past. (Just happened) Venir in Imparfait form + de +infinitive expresses an action that "HAD JUST HAPPENED" He just accepted this position He has just accepted this position when he was offered another one.

Il vient d'accepter ce poste. Il venait d'accepter ce poste quand on lui en a proposé un autre.

Imparfait Flashcards

(50 cards)